News
BRCC performing better than 2020 but community consultation needs to improve
Benalla Rural City Council's 2021 Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey results show an overall improvement on 2020 - but the community wants better consultation, engagement and lobbying on its behalf.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Each year, Local Government Victoria coordinates a community satisfaction survey.
This coordinated approach allows for more cost-effective surveying than would be possible if councils commissioned surveys individually.
*** Discarded face masks could pose a threat to Lake Benalla’s platypus population
In 2021, 66 councils participated in the survey. BRCC's results are measured against 17 other ‘small rural’ local government areas.
The survey assesses the performance of the council across a range of measures and offers insight into ways to provide improved or more effective service delivery.
The survey was conducted between February 10 and March 18 via an automated telephone questionnaire, which randomly selected residents aged 18 and over.
A total of 401 interviews were conducted.
*** Benalla pharmacies to begin COVID-19 vaccinations
The good
Benalla Rural City Council's overall performance was up with a rating of 61, four points higher than in 2020 and one point above the average for small rural shires.
Its overall council direction scored 43. That is three points higher than 2020 and one above the average for small rural shires.
A new core measure for 2021 was value for money, in which BRCC scored 54, also one point higher than the average.
BRCCs sealed local roads score was in line with the average for similar councils at 53. That, however, represents an improvement from a score of 49 in 2020.
It's score for making community decisions was 57, one higher than the average and three points higher than in 2020.
*** Benalla showjumpers disappointed by Melbourne show cancellation
The bad
BRCCs score for advocacy - lobbying on behalf of the community dropped by three points from 2020 to 53 - which is also two points lower than the average for similar councils.
Its score of 70 for customer service dropped one point compared to 2020 numbers. It is, however, one point above the average.
BRCCs score for community consultation and engagement was 52. That is a drop of three points from 2020 and is four points behind the average.
*** Olympic fun at the pharmacy
Once BRCC general manager corporate Robert Barber finished presenting highlights of the report at last Wednesday's council meeting, Cr Punarji Hewa Gunaratne addressed the meeting.
“Looking at the report it's good to note some areas have improved,” Cr Gunaratne said.
“My main concern is the community consultation and engagement.
“I think we have been getting alarms from the community as well regarding this . . . At an important time because we are engaging with the community plan.”
*** Mentors and mentees get creative at Tomorrow Today’s Connect9 program
Cr Gunaratne then asked Mr Barber what areas he thought could be improved and if council had conducted any studies into how it could improve in this area.
“This was done in February . . . So before we started our community plan consultations,” Mr Barber told the meeting.
“So I would think that given the community engagement we have started on those processes (we expect) to have an increase in our result next year
“Also as part of that process we did adopt our community engagement policy, which council was asked to be re-developed over the six months while we developed our council plan.
*** Overdose deaths increase across the region in 2020
“So I would hope that as we ask questions in regard to our community engagement that, when that's presented to council later in the year, we'll have some answers on what people are looking for in regards to their engagement.
“And that will be reflected in the new policy plus the updated community engagement tool kit that we plan to bring to council as well.”
The survey also included optional questions, the results of which are in this table:
202120192017201620152013Responsibility areaAppearance of public areas757673727577Elderly support service717469687276Emergency and disaster management707469687276Family support services647067636772Parking facilities696970656364Waste management666862596972Recreational facilities706765666969Tourism development606558545458Environmental sustainability625859566060Condition of local streets and footpaths505348484850Population growth5657n/an/an/an/aSlashing and weed control515748514952Unsealed roads484740424244
*** Benalla P-12 students celebrate 100 days of school
It then asked six tailored questions, specific to BRCC, the results of which are in the following table:
20212019201720162015Responsibility areaProviding libraries8084828183Providing arts centres7579777378Tourism promotion and support6166585757Community development6263585560Economic or business development5859484343Providing youth services and activities5554514750
The proposal put to council with the report was that it would be used to inform and develop the council plan 2021-2025.
It passed unanimously. The full report is available on the Benalla Rural City Council website.
If you would like to send a letter to the editor on this, or any subject, click this link
Editor